Dolly Bea Blair

BURLEY – Dolly Bea Blair, a 93-year-old resident of Burley, passed away the morning of Sunday, November 9, 2025, at Autumn Haven Assisted Living in Rupert.

Dolly was born November 4, 1932, in Longdale, Oklahoma. She grew up in the Longdale area with one brother and eight sisters. She married Johnnie D. Tanner in 1951. They had two children, Barry and Sandra. In 1957, they moved from Oklahoma to the Burley area and later moved to Paul. Johnnie passed away in 1977. She then remarried in 1981, to Gordon Blair, with whom she enjoyed 32 years of marriage, living in Burley, Idaho, before his passing. Dolly and Gordon loved to travel together. They also spent much of their free time heavily involved in the Burley Lions Club.

She worked for the Minidoka County School District Lunch program at Paul Elementary for over 20 years. She enjoyed socializing with the kids and loved that even years after her retirement the kids that she served still remembered her excellent cooking skills. After retiring from the Minidoka School District, she wasn’t ready to give up her love of cooking; she then went on to cook for several years at the Burley Senior Center. She was also known for her love of bowling. She made many friends during this time, and loved getting those perfect strikes. Dolly had a superb green thumb. She took great pride in her garden and yard. Her roses were famous around town and she loved to share them with others.

Dolly loved her children and grandchildren greatly. She always remembered every birthday and made a special cake for each grandchild to celebrate. She was also remembered for her perfect hair and being perfectly poised and dressed to impress for every occasion. Dolly had a love for word puzzles, trinkets from her traveling, and cooking.

She is survived by two sisters, Amy Conley of Texas, Iva Jim Horton of Seligman, Missouri; her son, Barry (Linda) Tanner of Paul; her son-in-law, Jim Madden of Burley; seven grandchildren, Cori Tanner (Mike Nouri), Robyn Fisher (Ryan), Casey Elfe (Kyle), Jaime Thompson (Issac), and Brandon Madden; nine great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Johnnie Tanner and Gordon Blair; her daughter, Sandra Madden; and two grandchildren, Stacey Tanner and Christopher Tanner.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, November 17, at Rasmussen-Wilson Funeral Home, located at 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, where family and friends will be received prior to the service from 9:30 until 10:50 a.m. The interment will take place at Paul Cemetery.